Ceramic pots are attractive but once full of soil are a trifle heavy. As an alternative, plants could be grown in plastic pots then these containers placed in a ceramic pot. Containers should be a minimum of 30cm in diameter.

What potting mix should be used? The plants are going to live in a confined space for many years.It is best to splash out and use premium native potting mix. Once established, feed your plants with native slow release fertiliser once every six months.

Water the plants regularly. A layer of organic mulch will reduce evaporation. To keep your potted native plants looking their best, pinch out the growing tips regularly.

The range of native plants suitable for life in pots is considerable. These are just a few that will bring colour to your balconies, patios and verandahs.

We do not think of wattles as suitable for this form of cultivation but there are dwarf forms that will cope in pots. Acacia “Bushwalk Baby” is a dwarf form of the Ovens wattle (Acacia pravissima). This ground-covering wattle has a spread of about 50cm, so plants will spill out of a pot. In spring plants are covered with yellow flowers.

The correas lend themselves to pot cultivation. They have proved to be hardy, free-flowering and long-lived in containers. There is a multitude to choose from.

Correa “Autumn Blaze” is a compact bush growing to a height of 30cm. The tubular flowers are an outstanding feature. They are bright orange with pale tinge on the petal tips. Flowering extends from autumn through winter. The blooms are profuse.

Correa “Cardinal Bells” is a recent addition to the nursery scene. This compact shrub reaches a height of 1m. The eye-catching tubular flowers are orange/red. The flowers are rich in nectar and attract honeyeaters.

Eremophila “Thundercloud” reaches a height of 1.5m. Large tubular flowers are purple.